Humidifier unit



Sept. 30, 1958 M. 'A. POWERS 2,853,995

HUMIDIFIER UNIT Filed Aug. 28. 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 1 1111111 1 1 .1 ll 1II IIIIIIII 111111111111111111111111 [rm LIIIIIII 111 IN VEN TOR.

Nu. ram 4 POM/6W8 BY Sept. '30, 1958 M. A. POWERS HUMIDIFIER UNIT 3SheetsSheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1952 INVENTOR 4 .J I 1 {I 27 Ill 8 '6 MILTON A Powews 3 Sheets- Sheet :5

Filed Aug. 28. 1952 INVENTOR. MILTON A Pow:

A TI' RNA'VJ United States Patent G HUMmIFIER UNIT 1 Claim. (Cl. 126350)The present invention relates to humidifying apparatus which providesefiicient operation with-any type of heating plant. More particularly,the present invention includes a humidifier which is separate from thefurnace and which is preferably positionedadjacent the space to behumidified or within the heating duct of the, heating system, thehumidifier being operated in response to temperatures in. the exhauststack of the heatingplantto provide predetermined timing and length ofoperation.

It is well known that proper humidity control is vital in the livingquarters of. a home, especially during the long heating periodsencountered during the winter in many parts of the country. Excessive orinsufiicienthumidity is damaging both to the health of the .person andthe structure and furnishings of the home.

Humidification is, generally obtained in warm air furnaces through pantype humidifiers which are usually located in the bonnet or hood of thefurnace. Theamount of vapor from a pan type humidifier depends upon thedegree of heat in the passing airstream in the furnace and the length oftime of operation of the heating plant. When no heat is required thereis no humidity. As the weather grows colder much more vapor is :neededand more humidity is supplied as more heat is called-for and vice versa.Thus, there is an inherent automatic control of the moisture added totheairstream' based upon furnace temperature and the length of operationonsoil and gas fired installations. In coal installations the colder theweather the higher the furnace temperature and themore water evaporated.

However, in the case of boiler heating plants, there is no such meansfor controlling the moisture addition except by complex and costlymeans. Furthermore, no practical method'has been evolved-whereby'theiheat in the boiler can be used to evaporate the necessary water. Thislack of a humidifier is overcome by the. humidifier of the presentinvention operating in conjunction with the control system andconstruction of my co-pending application Serial No. 306,808, filedAugust 28, 1952, and now abandoned.

Being independently heatedand operated, the humidifier may be installedatxa distance from the controller and-in the most effective locationforunrestricteddissemination of the vapor throughout the living areas.On'all remotely located humidifiers heretofore known it has gas'heated.In this preferred arrangement, thefuelsupply line is carried throughthestack controller on its way tothe humidifien Thus the fuel supply itselfand, the means of controlling that supply are. both present in thesingle gas line to the humidifier.

The same considerations will apply if the humidifier fuel is electricityinstead of gas and the controlwill function with equal satisfaction. Inthat case the controller on the stack will be an electric switchresponding to the action of a bimetal or similar actuator in varying theflow of the fuel, in this case electricity, to the humidifier remotelylocated. In all instances the single conduit between the controller inthe stack and the humidifier servesa dual function; namely, to carry thefuel and to vary the amount of that fuel flow to meet the constantlyvarying needs for humidity in the home.

With my system only two conduits are required, one for water and one forfuel, and these are connected simply and directly. This is in contrastto previous systems, which always required a humidistat in the livingquarters, a source of electricity, a step-down transformer (humidistatsusually being low voltage operation) and the necessary connectingcircuits. Further, both elements of my system, control and humidifier,mount in the basement where connection is simpleand easy. All of thesefactors are important .in'bringing theinstalled cost of my novelcombination to a level wherev it reaches an extensive waiting market. Itanswers a great need in the home for automatic. humidification which hasgone unsatisfied because of the complication, excessive cost, andunreliable operation of humidistat controlled systems which alone havebeen available heretofore.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide humidifyingapparatus which is simple in construction, and whichcan be manufacturedat relatively low cost so asto render thesame available to theaveragehomeowner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a humidifyingsystem and apparatus wherein the humidifier is operated and heatedindependently, and wherein the-humidifier may be installed at a distancefrom the furnace and control unit.

It is another objectof the present invention to provide such ahumidifying system and'apparatus wherein the humidifier is automaticallyoperated in response to changes in the temperature of the exhaust gasesin the exhaust stack of the heating plant.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a humidifyingapparatus which may be used with any type of heating plant or systemincluding boilers or wet heating systems.

It is another objectof the present invention to provide humidifyingapparatus which is efiicient and flexible in operation, which is adaptedfor-quick and simple installa tion, and which is readily and easilyaccessible after installation.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claim, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the topportion of a heating plant showing thecontrol unit of the humidifying apparatus of the present inventionaffixed to the exhaust stack thereof, and showing the humidifier aifixedbeneath the floor of abuilding.

Figs. v2, 2A.and 2B are views similar to Fig. 1, demonstrating threedilferent constructions for conducting vapor fromthe humidifier into thespace to be humidified.

Fig. 3 isan elevation showing the humidifier of the present invention,in position in the heating duct of a heating plant.

Fig. .4.is asectional elevation of they humidifier of the presentinvention.

Fig. is a side elevation of the humidifier shown in Fig. 4.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

The invention includes generally a control unit which is incommunication with the interior of the exhaust stack of a furnace orheating plant. As the heating plant puts out greater heat and thetemperature within the exhaust stack increases, the need for humiditybecomes greater. At a predetermined temperature the control unit causesa gas fired burner in the humidifier to heat a container of water. Asthe water is heated, vapor rises therefrom and passes from thehumidifier into the space to be humidified.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in thedrawings wherein the humidifier is indicated generally at and thecontrol unit is indicated generally at 12. The control unit 12 isaflixed to the exhaust stack 14 of the heating plant 16. The details ofthe control unit are set out at length in my aforementioned co-pendingapplication Serial No. 306,808. Generally, the control unit includes athermal element 18 which extends into the interior of the exhaust stack14. The length of the element protruding into the exhaust stack 14 iscontrolled by the adjusting member 20. The rate of heating the thermalelement 18 is directly pro portional to the amount of its surfaceextending into the exhaust stack. When the thermal element is heated toa predetermined temperature, then a bimetallic element within thecontrol unit 12 opens a valve which permits gas to flow from the inletpipe 22 through the valve and into the outlet pipe 24. The gas flowsthrough the pipe line 24 into the burner 26. (Fig. 4). A burner whichhas been found satisfactory is a burner manufactured by Servel Inc. ofEvansville, Indiana, and it is this burner which is shown in thedrawings. The burner 26 has a heat transfer member 28 positionedadjacent the burner ports 30, and this heat transfer member acts incooperation with a safety valve 32 to cut oil? the gas supply when thepilot flame is out. Thus, if a draft should happent to blow out thepilot flame, the heat transfer member 28 will cool and cut ofi the gassupply to the pilot burner in the conventional and well known manner.

The construction of the humidifier 10 is thoroughly disclosed in Figs. 4and 5 of the drawings. A metal housing is indicated at 36 and a portionof the interior of the housing 36 is fitted with an asbestos jacket 38.A cap 40 is aflixed in any suitable manner such as press fitting to thetop of the housing 36. The cap is provided with an asbestos liner 42 andhas a central hole 44 therein adapted to fixedly receive the stack 46 inthe assembled position. The cap 40 is also provided with a plurality ofvents 48 which permit the products of combustion to escape from theburner 26. In this manner the hot burner gases are mixed with thebasement air and are cooled sufliciently to eliminate danger ofoverheating. A pair of rods 50 and 52 are aflixed to the cap 40 by screwthreaded engagement with the nuts 54, 56, 58, and 60.

A tank 62 is disposed directly above the burner 26.

This tank 62 includes the upper half section 64 and the the flaredportion 67 formed on the lower section 66 as skirt 65 of the uppersection is placed within the sidewall of the lower section. Thus, anelfective seal is provided between the sections 64 and 66 which preventscondensate water from running out of the joint between these sections.Also, the stack 46 is aflixed to the top section 64 of the tank 62 withthe extension 77 extending d0Wnwardly into the tank 62 so that condensedwater will drop clear of the stack 46 and prevent leakage fromdeveloping.

A rod 68 is threaded into the nut 78' which nut is rigidly afiixed tothe bottom tank section 66. Secured to the rod 68 by the clamp 72 is theburner assembly 26. The burner assembly is adjustable up or down the rod68 so that the best position for eflicient heating of the tank 62 may beattained. The clamp 72 holds the burner assembly 26 in the selectedposition on the rod 68 by means of the set screw 73. The bottom of therod 68 extends through the plate 74 and is aflixed thereto by the nuts76 and 78. The plate 74 is provided at its ends with flanges 77 whichare provided with openings 79. Screws 105 extend through openings 79into threaded engagement with nuts 110 which are fixedly secured on theinner surfaces of housing 36. Screws 105 may be threaded out of nuts 110to remove plate 74 from housing 36 for disassembly of tank section 66.Plate '74 extends only partially across the width of housing 36 toprovide openings for the admission of air to burner 26.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings it will be seen thatthe bottom section 66 of the tank 62 is connected to a float controlledwater chamber 80 by the U-shaped line 82 which extends through aU-shaped slot 107 in the upper edge of a door 108 which is removablymounted on housing 36 by means of a wing nut 109. The portion of theline 82 which is adjacent the tank 62 is surrounded by a shield 81 whichkeeps hot gases from the burner 26 away from the cold water in the line82. The water chamber 80 is provided with a float and a metering valvewhich are of conventional construction and readily understood. Thus,these parts are not shown. Water is provided in the chamber 80 from asource of water through the supply line 83 (Fig. 1) to the valve (notshown) in the chamber 80 and passes through the U-shaped line 82 intothe tank 62. When the water in the tank 62 and chamber 80 reach apredetermined level, the float (not shown) in the chamber 80 cuts oifthe metering valve in the usual manner and no more water is fed into thechamber 80 or tank 62. However, as the burner 26 is operated, the waterin the tank 62 is evaporated and passes out the stack 46 into the spaceto be humidified. As the water is evaporated, it is replaced through thefloat chamber 80 and line 82. A stand pipe 85 is provided in the floatchamber 80 so that excess water will be spilled outside the humidifyingapparatus if the valve should not function properly.

It will be noted that the disposition of the U-shaped pipe 82 beneaththe water chamber 80 and the evaporation tank 62 from flowing tore-enter the water chamber 80. Thus, the separation of the water chamber80 from the evaporation tank 62, the U-shaped connection line disposedbeneath and between the chamber and tank, and the shield 81 maintain thewater supply to the tank 62 at relatively cool temperatures.

In operation, as the exhaust stack 14 of the heating plant reaches apredetermined temperature, the control unit 12 is operated to supply gasthrough the line 24 to the burner 26. The pilot flame lights the burner26, and the water in the tank 62 is heated and evaporated through thepipe 46 into the space to be humidified. As the water in the tank 62 isdiminished, it is replaced from the float chamber 80. The gasesresulting from combustion pass out the vents 48 in the cap 40 and thehous ing 36 and cap 40 are protected by the asbestos liners 38 and 42.If the pilot flame of the burner 26 should accidently go out, the valve32 will cut oif the supply of gas to the burner 26 through the line 24.

The method of mounting the humidifier 10 to a floor construction andthree different conntructions for diffusing vapor throughout the spaceto be humidified are demonstrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In mountingthe humidifier, a plate 84 is afiixed to adjacent joists 86 and 88 byany suitable means such as the screws 90. The plate 84 has holes thereinto accommodate the screws 90, the rods 50 and 52 and the stack 46. Thehumidifier is suspended from the plate 84 by the rods 50 and 52 whichare afiixed to the plates by the nuts 54 and 58. The stack 46 projectsupwardly through a hole in the floor 92.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the upwardly extending stack 46 iscovered with a register 94 having the holes 96 and 97 therein. Room airenters at the bottom of the mixing chamber, formed by the register 94,through the holes 97. The room air is heated within the mixing chamberand moves upward to mix with the vapor from the pipe 46. The mixture isthen dispelled through the holes. 96 into the space being humidified. Inthe Fig. 2A embodiment, a fan 98 is disposed within the register 94a.The fan introduces a large volume of room air through the holes 97a.This air mixes with the vapor rising from the pipe 46a to greatly dilutethe vapor. This renders the vapor invisible and accelerates diifusion ofthe vapor, and the mixture passes out the holes 96a into the space beinghumidified. In the Fig. 2B embodiment a blower 100 is disposed in theside of the register 94b and communicates with the interior of theregister to force the vapor out through the holes 96b.

The humidifier 10 may also be mounted to the heat duct of a heatingplant as indicated in Fig. 3. In this construction, the rods 50 and 52are aflixed to the plate 104 by the nuts 54 and 58 as explained inconnection with Fig. 2. The plate 104 is then inserted into an openingin the bottom of the heat duct 106 and vapor is dispelled out the stack46 into the heat duct 106 and carried through the usual register intothe space to be heated and humidified.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided agas heated humidifier which is fully automatic, adapted for use in anysize building, and arranged to operate in connection with any type ofheating plant. The humidifier functions automatically to supply acontrolled amount of moisture to the space to be humidified, varying thevapor output from day to day without attention and providing propermoisture over the entire heat- References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,293 Morian Sept. 17, 1889 1,016,873Dibble Feb. 6, 1912 1,206,081 Becker Nov. 28, 1916 1,542,696 Hardie June16, 1925 1,618,726 Ramsburg Feb. 22, 1927 1,674,337 Klees June 19, 19281,674,469 Hardie June 19, 1928 1,692,816 Chamberlin Nov. 27, 19281,865,563 Greenwald July 5, 1932 1,867,921 Mayers July 19, 19321,925,601 Pfening Sept. 5, 1933 1,966,399 Te Pas July 10, 1934 1,982,323Roberts Nov. 27, 1934 2,002,294 McMath May 21, 1935 2,171,691 GeislerSept. 5, 1939 2,217,375 Miller Oct. 8, 1940 2,238,108 Gates Apr. 15,1941 2,244,126 Smith et al. June 3, 1941 2,287,376 Furlong June 23, 19422,328,538 Furlong Sept. 7, 1943 2,354,773 Ray Aug. 1, 1944 2,526,027Huck Oct. 17, 1950 2,576,719 Koser Nov. 27, 1951 UNITEB OFFICE ICERTIFICATE oT coaaEcTIo Patent N00 2, 853,996

September 30, 958 Milton A1 Powers It is-herebjr certified that errorappears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 4, line 55, after "tank 62" insert prevents the hot water fromthe evaporating tank 62 Signed and sealed this 6th day of January 1959(SEAL) Attest:

KARL mama ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

